The Wandering Jew — Volume 06 eBook

“To sum up all in two words. The end is
abdication—­the means, vexation, incessant
torture. The Rennepont inheritance wilt pay for
the election. The price agreed, the merchandise
will be sold.”

Rodin here paused abruptly, thinking he had heard
some noise at that door of his, which opened on the
staircase; therefore he listened with suspended breath;
but all remaining silent, he thought he must have been
deceived, and took up his pen:

“I will take care of the Rennepont business—­the
hinge on which will turn our temporal operations.
We must begin from the foundation—­substitute
the play of interests, and the springs of passion,
for the stupid club law of Father d’Aigrigny.
He nearly compromised everything—­and yet
he has good parts, knows the world, has powers of
seduction, quick insight—­but plays ever
in a single key, and is not great enough to make himself
little. In his stead, I shall know how to make
use of him. There is good stuff in the man.
I availed myself in time of the full powers given
by the R. F. G.; I may inform Father d’Aigrigny,
in case of need, of the secret engagements taken by
the General towards myself. Until now, I have
let him invent for this inheritance the destination
that you know of. A good thought, but unseasonable.
The same end, by other means.

“The information was false. There are over
two hundred millions. Should the eventuality
occur, what was doubtful must become certain.
An immense latitude is left us. The Rennepont
business is now doubly mine, and within three months,
the two hundred millions will be ours, by the free
will of the heirs themselves. It must be so; for
this failing, the temporal part would escape me, and
my chances be diminished by one half. I have
asked for full powers; time presses, and I act as if
I had them. One piece of information is indispensable
for the success of my projects. I expect it from
you, and I must have it; do you understand me?
The powerful influence of your brother at the Court
of Vienna will serve you in this. I wish to have
the most precise details as to the present position
of the Duke de Reichstadt—­the Napoleon II.
of the Imperialists. Is it possible, by means
of your brother, to open a secret correspondence with
the prince, unknown to his attendants?

“Look to this promptly. It is urgent.
This note will be sent off to day. I shall complete
it to-morrow. It will reach you, as usual, by
the hands of the petty shopkeeper.”

At the moment when Rodin was sealing this letter within
a double envelope, he thought that he again heard
a noise at the door. He listened. After
some silence, several knocks were distinctly audible.
Rodin started. It was the first time any one had
knocked at his door, since nearly a twelve-month that
he occupied this room. Hastily placing the letter
in his great-coat pocket, the Jesuit opened the old
trunk under his bed, took from it a packet of papers
wrapped in a tattered cotton handkerchief, added to